36 Mommy

Midori stepped out of the elevator, her snake print heels clicking on each stride towards the conference room. She was wearing a maroon turtleneck knitted blouse paired with straight-cut black slacks. Her outfit was partially covered by her taupe trenchcoat, reaching her knees.

She sat on her designated seat in the meeting with her pokerface on.

The COO of the hotel chain was in the middle of his report when Midori's personal phone rang. She squinted her eyes behind the dark framed glasses, but she was otherwise in the same position.

Her assistant whispered that it was from the nanny. She shot him a cold look and took the phone from him.

"What?! What am I paying you for?!" she shouted at the caller.

Then she shot the COO a glare. "I will give all of you a day to redo your reports."

She walked out of the room without saying anything else, her poker face was back.

The elevator landed on the basement parking. Her assistant hurried to unlock the car and let her in.

As soon as he buckled his seatbelt, Midori's cold voice rang. "IC Mall."

The assistant quickly drove out, not wasting a second.

____________

Hours earlier...

A man in a patterned shirt, jeans and casual jacket with a pair of sneakers was sighing in front of the feminine hygiene products aisle. With clenched fists, he gripped on the empty basket. He looked around, then looked down, sighing even more.

With determined eyes, he picked out 5 packs of sanitary pads and tossed them into his basket.

He was looking down as he walked past aisles, afraid someone might recognize him. Oh it would be shameful!

So far, no one seemed to notice him. He slowly elevated his point of view. On the periphery, something caught his eyes. He turned and saw a little boy, about 4 or 5 years old, in an otherwise empty aisle, looking up intently. He looked around, trying to spot his parents nearby, but everyone seemed busy with their own stuff. With his curiosity, he slowly walked towards the boy.

On closer inspection, the little guy was staring at the box of chocolate cereals at the topmost shelf.

Dan reached for it with ease. His maximum height reached 185cm so it was easy for him.

The little boy's hazel eyes wavered, then followed the box he was intently staring at until it landed right in front of him. He finally noticed the tall man beside him who was then bending to be eye level with him, with a warm smile.

The little boy looked back into those hazel eyes. His eyes became chinky as he smiled back to the stranger. On one of his chubby cheeks was a dimple enhancing his cuteness.

"Thanks, Mister!" he blurted out.

Dan was taken aback by the kid's sudden words. He flashed his pearly whites into a bigger smile.

"You're welcome. Where are your parents?" he casually asked, while looking around.

The little boy's expression turned gloomy in an instant, disturbing Dan's thoughts.

"Are you lost?" He gently patted the little boy on the head.

The little boy nodded, ending the movement with his head looking down.

"Okay, little guy. I am Uncle Dan. What's your name?" He was then squatting to maintain eye contact.

"My name is Manta." the boy replied timidly.

Dan was impressed by his clear articulation of words. It was good for his age.

"Okay, Manta. Put your cereals in the basket. Let's pay for it now." He motioned with his basket in hand.

Manta hesitated, then looked up at the then standing tall man.

"What's the matter?" Dan's brows furrowed a little.

"Uncle Dan, I don't have any money." He forgot all about money when he decided to lose his nanny to get his favorite cereals.

Dan turned his head away. He was having difficulty suppressing a laugh. It took a few minutes before he finally composed himself. All those times, the little guy was staring at him with pitiful eyes. Good thing was he is tall so his expressions were not obvious.

"It's okay. I'll pay for it. Then we could go to customer's service to find your parents. Sounds good?"

"Hai!" Manta cheerily put the box inside the basket. Then he noticed its contents. "Uncle Dan, what are you buying?"

Dan recognized the language in an instant, but the question made him flustered. "Uhm...it's something a lady would need." He scratched the back of his head.

"Oh, you're buying this for your lady?" Manta innocently asked.

There was a pang of hurt in Dan's whole being. My lady. Midori's smiling face flashed in his mind. He smiled bitterly.

Seeing this uncle changed expressions, Manta pulled on his sleeve. "Uncle, the cashier is over there." He was pointing at the end of the aisle.

Dan was pulled out of his reverie. He smiled and nodded towards the little boy. Then they walked towards the cashier.

Dan was holding the chubby little hand as they walked out of the supermarket.

They were walking past a soft serve kiosk when Manta pulled his hand.

"Uncle Dan! Ice cream! Can I have ice cream? Please!" The hazel eyes in puppy mode was hard to resist.

Dan furrowed his brows but his eyes were yielding. "Okay, but we need to hurry and find your parents."

He bought a single serving of soft serve in a cone. As they were walking away, he noticed the slower pace of the kid.

"What's wrong? Are you tired?" Dan silently scolded himself for walking his usual large strides.

Manta gently nodded. Then he was surprised as this uncle lifted him into his arms with a swift movement. The little guy happily flashed his biggest smile, with his chinky eyes and milk teeth.

Manta had finished his soft serve in no time. He was happily clinging on his new uncle when a voice called from behind.

"Manta!" The familiar voice of a woman rang, full of concern.

Dan turned around towards the voice. Manta squirmed in his arms.

"Mommy!" he shouted back. His sudden movements to free himself caused some of the contents of Dan's shopping bag to fall out. Manta hurriedly ran towards the woman.

Midori bent down to embrace the little guy, swiftly lifting him in her embrace with ease, as if she was not in her heels.

Then her eyes swept the surroundings and found a tall man staring back at them. She also noted the pack of maternity sanitary pads on the floor.

She furrowed her brows, then looked back at the man through her glasses.

Dan was frozen in shock, his mouth gaping. Then he saw her turn her back to him.

"Riley. Compensate him for his trouble." Midori told her assistant with her usual poker face. Without looking back, she strode away.

Manta, who was still in her arms, was waving back to the man. "Bye Uncle Dan! See you next time!"

Dan somehow regained himself and absentmindedly drove to deliver his purchase to the hospital.

He looked intently at the box of cereals he forgot to give to the little guy. Then he drove home.

He went directly into his bedroom, throwing himself onto the bed.

He closed his eyes. He recalled how he even went back to City S to look for her. He went to her house but was sent off. He can still clearly recall Aunty Lan's disdainful look.

Then he remembered looking into those round hazel eyes, becoming chinky as the little boy smiled. Then his little voice resounded in his head, "Mommy!" Midori's expression was of shock, turning into hate, grief, and worry. He was looking at her and he felt hurt. For 2 years he was looking for her to the point that he thought he would go crazy. With great efforts, he stabilized himself for a few years. Then she appeared before him again.

He remembered her flustered face as she picked up the little boy into her arms, and how the boy waved back to him with chubby cheeks and fingers.

He bolted upright as he opened his eyes. Oh my God!